The parents of slain travel blogger Gabby Petito and her killer, her fiancé Brian Landry, are moving toward mediation in their ongoing legal battle in Florida, records show.
The parties are scheduled to meet in person on the morning of February 21st with mediator W. Andrew Clayton Jr., who charges more than $7,000 for one day’s effort, according to his website. It is said that there is Landry family attorney Stephen Bertolino has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit and will participate.
Lawyers for both sides took part in depositions related to the case Wednesday morning, but did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Gabby Pettit takes an Instagram photo at Bryce Canyon National Park. (Gabby Pettit’s family)
Petito’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nicole Schmidt, previously rejected the settlement offer, but their attorney, Pat Riley, said they were willing to accept it on other terms. Mr. Riley last week asked Mr. Bertolino to hand over insurance information that could be brought up in a civil judgment or settlement.
If negotiations fail, a trial date is scheduled for May 13.
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Brian Landry was seen on body camera footage released by the Moab, Utah, Police Department during a domestic violence investigation weeks before he allegedly killed Gabby Pettit. (Moab Police Department)
David Gellman, a New Jersey lawyer who is following the case, said the planned mediation shows both sides are in good faith and open to negotiation.
“I’m hopeful that if there is a resolution, it will be resolved soon,” he told Fox News Digital. “If the matter is not resolved within one or two days, or at most three days, I think mediation will fail.”
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Chris Landry, father of Brian Landry, is pictured in front of his home in Sarasota County, Florida, on October 19, 2022, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Brian’s body being found in a Florida swamp. (Mark Sims, Fox News Digital)
The scheduled meeting came shortly after Mr. Reilly called off efforts to force Mr. Bertolino to testify in court about his private conversations with Brian Landry. Mr. Riley argued that it was protected by the attorney-client privilege.
Roberta Landry unlocks her car in her driveway on October 11, 2023 in Northport, Florida. (Mark Sims, FOX News Digital)
A settlement would avoid the legal costs of a trial and the emotional burden of reliving the highly publicized incident that killed two young men in 2021.
“There’s a lot of emotion involved in this particular case, and there are people who are no longer with us, so it’s obviously more emotional than a normal civil case,” Gelman added.
Landry, the only suspect in Petite’s death, is believed to have killed her on or about August 28, 2021.
Gabby Petito’s parents (Joseph Petito, left) and Nicole Schmidt, along with attorney Patrick Reilly, speak with Brian Petito in a Sarasota County, Florida, courtroom as Luca seeks dismissal of the negligence lawsuit. Hear arguments from attorneys for Landry’s parents, Matthew Luca. , June 22, 2022. (Mike Lang/USA Today Network)
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According to testimony in the lawsuit, Landry made a “frantic” phone call to her parents on Aug. 29, 2021, telling them that Gabby was ‘missing’ and she needed a lawyer.
The laundry came home Police released a statement to Northport, Florida parents on September 1, 2021, citing license plate reader recordings of the van as it entered the city.
Chris and Roberta Landry were at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park the morning police found their son’s skeletal remains just a few yards away. (Michael Lewis/Fox News Digital)
Mr. Bertolino replaced Mr. Landry at the powerful Wyoming defense firm on September 2, 2021.
Laundry and the others went camping on the beach At Fort de Soto ParkNothing was said publicly about Petit’s disappearance south of St. Petersburg.
After police knocked on the door on September 11, 2021, the killer slipped out and committed suicide at the Myakahatchee Creek Environmental Park on the road, but search teams were unable to locate him for weeks as the area was buried by floodwaters. No body was found.
Petito’s body was discovered in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest on September 19, 2021, after an FBI-led search. Investigators ruled her death a wrongful death. Murder by manual strangulation Blunt trauma to the head and neck.
Brian Landry’s parents, Christopher Landry and Roberta Landry, speak with FBI agents at their Florida home on September 20, 2021. (Paul Best/Fox News Digital)
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Just over a month later, police and the FBI discovered Landry’s body and a dry bag containing a handwritten confession.
“I thought it was merciful and I thought that was what she wanted, but now I realized all the mistakes I had made. I panicked. I was in shock,” he said. is writing.
The lawsuit alleges that the parents knew about the murder and tried to cover it up and avoid justice, charges the dry cleaner’s attorney denies.
Attorney Stephen Bertolino (right) speaks with attorney Laura Kelly (center) during arguments to dismiss the charges against him brought by Gabby Pettit’s parents. Bertolino represented Brian Landry’s parents, Roberta Landry and Christopher Landry, after Gabby was reported missing. On the left is Bertolino’s attorney, Charles Mertz. The public hearing was held on May 24, 2023. (Mike Lang/USA Today Network)
Both families previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $3 million.
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Riley called the amount an “arbitrary number” at the time, but said: “Whatever money they receive will support Gabby’s family’s work at the Gabby Petite Foundation.”
This foundation is dedicated to combating domestic violence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
